All trains between Albany and New York's Grand Central Terminal were New York Central trains. However, some passenger equipment of other railroads could be seen, in total probably about 5 - 7% of the total equipment used: Canadian Pacific and Delaware and Hudson equipment on the Montreal - NY overnight Montreal Limited and the daytime Laurentian. Canadian Pacific equipment from and to Toronto. At times, both or one of the two Montreal trains ran via Troy and did not pass through Albany Station. Rutland equipment could be seen on the line south of Renssalaer, but the Green Mountain Limited always ran through Troy.
IN 1945 most trains used heavyweight equipment. Exceptions were the orginal streamlined lightweights sets for the Twentieth Century Limited (1938), two-tone grey and white, and the Empire State Express (1941), Budd stainless. Everything still ran behind steam, Pacifics, Hudsons, Mowhawks, and Niagras, and the streamlined Hudsons had lost their streamlining.
I would estimate that there were about 20 trains each way each day.
New York Central's mainline ran north from Grand Central up the Hudson to Albany, then turned left and went towards Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago. So not only did NYC have trains specifically serving upstate New York (like the Empire State Express) but also most all of their mainline trains (like the 20th century) served Albany.
I don't think there was another railroad that used Grand Central that went to Albany(??)
New York Central
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